I made a card for 2 different challenges using some of our new papers from the new Spring/Summer Idea Book. The card design is from Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge shown below. If you want to see several other ideas from this sketch click on the link above.

The other challenge I used for this card used the 1-2-3 Challenge from the  Heart 2 Heart  Blog site. Be sure and click on this link too and find more great ideas for this fun idea. For this challenge we were to create something using only 1 stamp, 2 different patterned papers, and 3 embellishments. I don't know if the flowers and the brads are supposed to be counted separate or not, but, I thought the flowers needed something in the centers.

I used patterned paper from the Stella Paper Pack for the big design at the back. I used the Chocolate Stamp Pad to distress the edges to add depth. I also cut it from our Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. What an easy way to cut parts for our projects! The horizontal piece is from the Florentine Paper Pack. I cut around the scallop with my very essential CTMH scissors. Easy way to have a scallop! I distressed the edges with Chocolate. The scalloped circle is cut from Cocoa Cardstock and once again cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. The stamp is from one of the exclusive stamp sets that comes in the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. Yes, it also can be cut from the cartridge!
The darling paper flowers are brand new in the Spring/Summer Idea Book on page 128. They are in a pack of several called Paradise Paper Flowers- Z1710. Everything is made from Close To My Heart products.


I would love to see what you do with this. Make your card or whatever you desire and post your picture in my Close To My Heart Artwork Album so we can all enjoy your creativity. You will be eligible to have your name put in the pot for a free gift! And of course, feel free to comment also. I love to hear from you.

Heres a 3x3 card I made for another challenge. The stamp set is D1491 Hooray Bouquet and all the actual flowers can be cut with our Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge first then stamp the adorable designs on after. So fast and so easy. The torn B&T is a very old and outdated paper. The rest is from the Roxie Paper Pack. The flowers were cut from cardstock. I really would like to use up my stash so have been enjoying putting different things together and they work!
I also really like this stamp set plus the others I used on the previous projects. I just can't seem to get tired of them. Thanks for looking.

I made this card for Mojo Monday. My first attempt for this blogsite challenge. 
Here's the design Mojo Sketch 225 we are using to make our cards from.

And here is my card.

Everything used is Close To My Heart products. 
the 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch base is Tulip Cardstock. I used a dry embosser and my paper cutter to measure and emboss the lines. I flipped it over and sandpapered the raised lines. I used Cocoa ink and a sponge and sponged all edges of all the pieces including the flowers.
The smaller pieces are Tulip Red also. The lighter cardstock placed in the middle is Sorbet Cardstock. I used our lace ribbon at the top of the Sorbet. 
The flowers are cut from our Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge using 2 different B&T from the Roxie Level 2 paper pack. I cut them with the Cricut first then stamped them with the accompanying stamp called Hooray Bouquet-D1491. I layered them together, sponged the edges with the Cocoa and put an Olive Brad in the middle. The swirl is from the Love Life-D1482 Stamp set. 


So there it is, if you click on the badge Mojo Monday to the right, you can see a whole lot more great artists and their interpretation of this sketch. 

Using Paint and Reinkers

Well, I thought I was going to make this for a Challenge but, the deadline  came and went. I decided to go ahead and post it anyway. Another technique using the White Acrylix paint that comes in the Distressing Kit- Z1299 and Close To My Heart's Reinkers. Using the re-inkers with the white paint not only guarantees the colors will match my Close To My Heart papers its also a way to save a few pennies by not having to buy all the different colors of paints. The reinkers can be used for alot of different techniques besides reinking your stamp pads. What a great versatile product! 


Reinker Colors I used:


Sunflower
Tulip
Olive
Sorbet

I took a 12x12 piece of Sorbet Cardstock and using a dry embosser I used it to emboss every 3 1/2 in both ways making a total of 9 3 1/2 in squares. I cut off the extra 1 1/2 inch left over.

Flip the embossed cardstock over and using a medium sandpaper, sand all the raised, embossed lines. You can emboss more of the cardstock if you wish for a more distressed look. Take a soft cloth or Kleenex and wipe off the excess debris from sanding. 

Here is a close up of the sanded cardstock.

I used a Styrofoam paper plate so the paint wouldn't soak in. Plop 3 (or more) piles of white paint. Add some reinker to each of these. You have to decide how much. Remember, the white makes it lighter.

I don't mix the reinker into the paint. I like to have the option of the darks and the lights to work with. I used a couple different types of brushes, but, here again, use what is comfortable and does the job. Its your creativity and what works for you the best.

Here I used a bristle brush. It will make more streaky strokes. Hmmmm.....that sounds cute......streaky strokes. 

I brushed color lengthwise and horizontal. It will be different shades because you will pick up white with the dark and the paint will mix with each stroke.

I also used a sponge brush and got a whole different look. It will go on with a more solid look. 

I left background color come through also and stayed inside the embossed lines so each square stayed a square.


I used the following Close To My Heart My Acrylix Stamp Sets:


D1491- Hooray Bouquet
C1408- Live Inspired
D1481- Vintage Type
D1482- Love Life
C1464- Blue Ribbon


These stamp sets are some of my favorites. I stamped several things and used some for the background. One thing bad about trying to stamp on top of the paint is, it doesn't show up as dark so, if you want it to be bold, I would suggest using the Staz-On. 

Here is some close-ups of what I did with the stamps.

This wrinkled piece of cardstock was stamped on first, then, I decided to dampen it and saw the ink start to run. I thought, oh no, is this going to work? I went ahead and wrinkled it up then smoothed it out and let it dry. It is pretty cool how it softened the image and the cardstock dried just like this. Its stiff too, so I just put some pop up dots under it. 

Ta Da......And here's the finished product.

I also made the accompanying LO.

 I painted on the right side to match the other LO and then I stamped on that 1 1/2 inch left over piece that was already embossed and sanded. I also used scrap pieces here and there.


Now, its your turn. Try some paint and reinkers on your project. Post your link to your photos of your project in my Face Book page under this post so I can admire your projects too. Oh, and I love your comments too.
Stampingranny

CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop

Welcome to my blog. If you are coming here from Luisa, then your on the right path. This blog hop goes in a circle so, if you start here and make the rounds, you will end up here again. 
This Blog Hop is featuring projects used from my scraps. I don't know about all of you, but, I am a collector and have all kinds of scraps of cut paper even from other projects. Below, is the 2 used and out dated Close To My Heart paper packs that I chose some of my B&T from. I decided to go with Blush, Baby Pink, Garnet, Desert Sand, Colonial White, White Daisy, Bamboo, Chocolate, and Garden Green as my color scheme.

I used the stamp set below to stamp on the designs I cut from our Art Philosphy Cricut Cartridge. 

 

 These are the stamp pads I used to stamp on the above cut pieces. Using the rolling method and stamping on them multiple times.

 Using a sponge and Garden Green ink, I distressed all the edges to give them another color and some depth. I love adding color to things, makes them pop.

Heres the finished product. A 2 page layout using my scraps. I tore the edges of some pieces, scalloped the border of 2 other pieces using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, cut and put together 2 layers of flowers again using the Art Philosophy Cartridge.

Just a couple close ups of the pieces that were cut from the Cricut Cartridge and stamped on. 

Well, thats all for now, you can move on to Elizabeth's blogsite from here. I hope you enjoy visiting and getting more new ideas for your projects.

Two More Blog Hops!

Even though I didn't join in these two blog hops please join me as I hop from one blogsite to the next to visit these ladies and view some really fabulous artwork and ideas for the December Stamp of the Month and the new Rock The Block Campaign. 


Let's start here with:


Helen Onulak - check out her amazing creative use of the new Rock The Block cubes! Then, after your done click on the link she has provided to move to the next blog site and so on. 


If you scroll down far enough, she has also participated in the December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. She has a list of all the participants in this one and the Rock The Block Hop so if you get lost, you can go back to hers and pick up where you left off. Happy Hopping!!!!!


Have any questions or see something you want? Just call, e-mail or message me on Facebook or click on the Shopping Online button to the right and start shopping. 
Be sure and check the shopping online and click on the While supplies last button. There are some amazing sales going on right now!!!!!! For instance, the Sweetheart Paper Pack and My Stickease is marked down 77% and 60%!!! 

Adeline Brill shows a project she made for the December Blog Hop using the Sweetheart Paper Pack for her show and tell.


 Lots of 8 1/2x 11 cardstock Combo packs on sale. Once they are gone, they are gone for good, so get yours today.


And lots of Embellishments for that Scrapbooker on your list.

Rock The Block Campaign!

Rock The Block Campaign starts today Dec. 19, 2011 and ends Jan. 31,2012! Just place a minimum order of $25 from the Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book, you can get two valuable new products for just $15: the My Creations^® Collage Cubes (a Spring/Summer 2012 sneak-peek product!) and the exclusive My Acrylix^® Rock the Block E-size stamp set shown below and available only during this promotion. This Rock the Block promotion represents a retail savings of almost $30! You're going to love the collage cubes and the Rock the Block stamp set, which work together for interactive, fashionable fun!

When you order online at my website, the option to order this campaign will pop up automatically when you finish putting in your $25 minimum order. Click below today for more information and to start shopping. Or you can call or e-mail me your order and I will do it for you. All my contact info is on my website. 

Shop On My Website!

Virtual Holiday Card Exchange

This card was made for a workshop that never happened but I will submit it here for this challenge. First, the list of product used:


Believe Level 2 Paper Pack (X7145B)
Cricut Art Philosophy Collection (Z1686)
Snow Flurries My Acrylix Stamp Set (D1384)
Glory To God My Acrylix Stamp Set (D1483)
Glitz Glitter Gel (Silver) (Z1482)


I cut the snowflake from the Cricut Cartridge and used the center piece for the extra snowflake at the top. I cut the solid back and the top layer from 2 different colors of cardstock then, filled in the holes with the Glitz Glitter Gel. Attach it with the 3-D foam tape. Simple card to make. 

Heart 2 Heart Challenges- click on this link to see other blogs and more ideas for Christmas Cards.